Friday, May 31, 2013

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH... Nikki Godwin

Author Bio:
Nikki Godwin is a Young Adult/New Adult author of both commercial and LGBT teen fiction. She is a city girl at heart with a soft spot for surfers, rock stars, and graffiti artists. She cannot live without Mountain Dew, black eyeliner, Hawthorne Heights, and candles from Bath and Body Works. She secretly wishes she owned a giraffe reservation. When not writing, she not-so-secretly stalks her favorite bands. She may or may not completely love One Direction.


 Links: Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Pinterest / Goodreads

Chasing Forever Down ( Drenaline Surf #1):
After seventeen-year-old Haley Sullivan meets a mysterious stranger who plays by his own rules, she's more than determined to learn every trick of the trade from the master himself. But her dream-chasing mentor disappears after that night, and according to the local newspapers, he's been dead for years. Knowing he's very much alive, Haley enlists best friend Linzi to join her on a scavenger-hunt-style road trip that ultimately lands them in the surf town of Crescent Cove, California. Mystery guy is no mystery here, though – he's Colby Taylor, the west coast's biggest professional surfer. 

If Haley wants to talk to the wave rider again, she'll have to get past his four intimidating bodyguards who are highly skilled in the business of sending starstruck fangirls back to where they belong. Haley is up for the challenge if it means chasing her dreams and escaping the perfectly corporate future that's been planned for her. But dealing with these bodyguards isn't exactly what Haley imagined it'd be. Sure, being thrown off a jet ski sucks, but falling in love with one of them might just be worse.

Book Links: Goodreads / Amazon - Available for the bargain price of .99c

Falling From The Sky:
All stability in sixteen-year-old Ridge McCoy's life crashed and burned in the plane crash that killed his dad. This summer-long basketball camp is his chance to improve his skills and escape his problems back home. But his summer plans take a turn in an unexpected direction when he meets Micah Youngblood, the guy who runs the carousel at the local mall and has a reputation for devouring straight boys' heterosexuality for breakfast, alongside his chocolate chip pancakes. 

Ridge needs a way to avoid the guys at camp, whose only quest for the summer is to drown in beer and hook up with girls. So when Micah offers to explain how the ten unique horses on the carousel are significant to his tribe, Ridge takes him up on it. Still, Ridge can't decide if this is a bad thing or not. All he knows is that he hasn't felt this alive since his dad fell from the sky, and as the horse adventures come to an end, Ridge finds himself falling as well – for Micah.

Expected publication: December 7th 2013
Add to Goodreads

American Girl on Saturn:
The summer after graduation is supposed to be that first real taste of freedom - but not for eighteen-year-old Chloe Branson. Just as that breeze of freedom is making its way into her galaxy, her secret-service-agent dad drops a meteor-sized bomb of bad news on her and her sisters. An attempt has been made on the lives of Canadian boyband, Spaceships Around Saturn, during their USA tour, and the guys have to go into hiding ASAP. The only problem? In the midst of the crisis and media frenzy, their dad volunteered to hide the guys...in their house.

Six-year-old Emery is as ecstatic as any self-proclaimed Saturnite would be, but Chloe and her seventeen-year-old sister Aralie watch their summer plans crash and burn like a falling star. The SAS guys aren't happy with the situation, either. Bad boy Jules picks fights with Aralie about everything from his Twitter followers to his laundry, and heart-throb Benji can't escape Emery's fangirlisms for more than three minutes.

But after the super-cute Milo kisses Chloe during a game of hide-and-seek, she finally understands what Emery means when she talks about SAS being "out of this world." If this is what Saturn feels like, Chloe doesn't want to come back to earth.

Cover to be Released
Expected publication: August 29th 2013
Add to Goodreads

Five Questions:

1. Why did you choose to write a book in the Young Adult genre?

I finally decided to take the stories out of my brain and put them on paper while I was in high school, so I think Young Adult chose me rather than me choosing it. It's definitely a phase in life that everyone can relate to. I know my YA years were much more fun than truck payments and day jobs, so it's a great escape when I write!

2. Who is your favourite character you have written and why?

My favorite character is definitely A.J. Gonzalez (in Chasing Forever Down). He’s the type of character I’ve been waiting to write. He’s edgy, a bit too wild, and very realistic. I like characters who feel real and jump off the page. For me, those are usually the edgier characters with a lot of flaws. 

3. Describe a typical writing day for you?

Open Word document. Read over last thing written. Cringe because I hate it. Close Word document. Spend hours on Facebook and Twitter. Check e-mail one hundred times. Finally re-open Word document. Allow sleep deprivation to set in. Write like crazy. Lather, rinse, repeat. <-- Sadly, this is very accurate. I write better late at night, when the world is dead, and I overthink everything, so I usually get my best writing when I'm too tired to overthink. 

4. What are you reading at the moment?

I recently finished Merch Girl by Rebecca Lewis, which I adored and highly recommend. I haven't started a new read though because I'm working on a new project myself with a strict deadline. I'm also going to be proofreading for my CP's final draft of her book soon, and I'm diving into edits for my sister on her upcoming release. 

5. If you turned your ipod on now, what would be the song that is currently playing?

"All Around The World" (acoustic version) by Justin Bieber or "Same Mistakes" by One Direction. I can't remember which one I last listened to, but those are my background music songs when I write. 



Thursday, May 30, 2013

COVER REVEAL & GIVEAWAY: Angels of the Knights - Nikki (Book 3) by Valerie Zambito


Angels of the Knights - Nikki (Book 3)
Coming Soon!

Summary not available yet...
***

Angels of the Knights - Fallon 

Summary from Goodreads:
When Fallon Angell died at the age of sixteen, her life changed forever.

The hallowed world of Emperica is everything she had ever hoped for as a mortal—immeasurable beauty, unconditional love and light. But, with affection for humankind still burning within her, she joins the Knight Caste to train as an angel warrior. As a Knight, she will give up her wings and return to the place that killed her to use her unique powers to search out and destroy the evil Kjin that roam the earth. As a Knight, she will stop at nothing to protect the mortals in her care.

The elders warn her that the path she chose will be a solitary one. That she will not have the same bond with humans as she once did. But, as far as she knows, the elders had never met Kade Royce.

When her duties place her in the path of this handsome former cop, emotions buried long ago rise to the surface and she is powerless to ignore the depth of her feelings for this young man. She knows instinctively that she has found what most people search their entire lives for.

Ignoring the risks, she invites him into her world of danger, but soon their lives collide with explosive consequence. As a result, Fallon realizes with heartbreaking despair that she can no longer hide from the painful truth. In order for Kade to live, she must destroy him.


E-book is currently free!
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Angels of the Knights - Blane 
(Angels of the Knights #2)

Summary from Goodreads:
Once the hunter, now the hunted. As the war with the Kjin rages, Blane Romero must lead the Paladin Knights against their mortal enemy while trying to protect the young, Juliet Hunter, who unwittingly finds herself entangled in their sinister schemes. Juliet cares only about shielding her young sisters from harm, but finds herself drawn to the enigmatic man who offers her much more than either he or she was prepared for.

Ostracized by the families they loved, Blane and Juliet find they have more in common than they thought as they battle demons both real and personal to stay together. But, will it be enough when the powerful Cesar Grant decides he wants Juliet for his own?

Book Two in the Angels of the Knights paranormal fantasy series.



Buy Links:
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About the Author
Thank you for visiting my Goodread's profile. I am Valerie Zambito, and I live in upstate New York with my husband and three sons. After having been involved in a busy sales career for fifteen years, a great love of world building, character creation, and all things magic led to the publication of my first adult epic fantasy series, ISLAND SHIFTERS, in October of 2011. Since then, I have added two additional books to this series and wrote the first book in a new teen paranormal series called ANGELS OF THE KNIGHTS.

My reading preference is fantasy as well and I devour in copious amounts. In my opinion, there’s nothing like it! Great fantasy grants us entry into a world beyond our own that is filled with adventure, mystery and danger. How exciting to enjoy a front row seat to human struggles of epic proportions. Struggles that tug at our heartstrings and elicit real emotion.

I gravitate to fantasy with heroic elements. I like strong, confident men who never back down from a fight against evil. The kind who will not hesitate to throw himself between a woman and a fire-breathing dragon. I like strong women, too. The kind who will appreciate the offer, but is more inclined to push the man out of the way and take care of the dragon herself. ;)

***GIVEAWAY***
(1) Print or e-book copies of books 1 & 2 in this series plus $25 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cover Reveal Organized by:

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

BLOG TOUR - REVIEW & EXCERPT: Girls Love Travis Walker by Anne Pfeffer


To nineteen-year-old high school dropout Travis Walker, women are like snowflakes--each one different, but beautiful in her own way.

He can charm any girl he meets, and yet down deep he fears he'll always be a loser like his jailbird father. As the landlady threatens to evict him and his sick mother, Travis takes a job he hates and spends his evenings picking up girls at a nearby night spot.

When he enlists in a teen program at the local fire station, he finds out he’s amazing at it. Then he meets the smoking hot Kat Summers, enlists Kat’s friend Zoey to help him woo her, and falls in love for the first time ever. 

But he keeps the details of his life secret. His girl will never love him back if she knows the truth about him….

Book Links: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Author Bio:
Anne Pfeffer is the author of Any Other Night and The Wedding Cake Girl.  She lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Author Links: Website / Twitter 

My Thoughts: 

What did it say about my prospects, that I was raised by not one, but two parents who couldn't cut it in the race of life? I'd probably been doomed from birth.

I absolutely loved this book!!! I have had books by Anne Pfeffer on my TBR list for a while now but hadn't gotten around to reading any yet. I am now so glad that I finally have.

My first impression of this book was the cover. Gorgeous guy who has that look of being self assured and confident. Then there was the title... Girls Love Travis Walker... Ok, I thought, this is going to be one of those books about a guy who has girls throwing themselves at him from all directions. And then after reading the book blurb I thought I was going to read a story about a guy who had a few hurdles to overcome.

I was a quitter, a dropout. A nobody on the road to nowhere.

Little did I know that what I was about to read would have such a huge impact on me. I read a good chunk of this book with eyes glazed with tears. This book hit me right in the heart. From about a third of the way through I just couldn't put it down. I was up until 3.30am reading it and then when I went to bed I just could not get to sleep because it kept playing in my head.

Travis Walker was just so completely likeable. He is gorgeous, with a beautiful body and a confidence to go with it. He knows what he's good at and has no qualms about admitting it. He knows how to make a girl feel good. And he's made many girls feel good. And he does it on a regular basis. But that is just the surface of Travis Walker. 

I really don't want to go into the finer details of things and have the story spoilt for you but let's just say that Travis has been dealt a crappy hand. And he just can't cut a break. At every turn he is slammed back down again. Each time when he thinks that maybe things are getting a little better and he's making some headway, it's like someone said "Things are looking up there Travis. We can't have that!!! Back down the ladder you go!!!" And each time it happened, my heart broke a little bit more. It was impossible not to be affected by his struggles as his world slowly unravelled around him as he tried with everything that he had to hold it together. 

I adored the care and concern that he showed for his Mum while silently begging and wishing and hoping that she would help him out. Even as everything happened he didn't give up on her and put her needs before his own. 

When Zoey's eyes met mine, it felt like I was reliving every warm, safe thing that had ever happened to me, every hug from mom, every cup of hot chocolate.

There is also a beautiful romance in this book. Romance told from the males point of view is for me about as good as it gets and seeing things through Travis's eyes was wonderful. The girl who captures his attention is Zoey. She was perfect with Travis. And while their romance isn't without it's hurdles, I loved seeing it develop through the different stages.

This book was full of reality and I think that is why it twisted my heart so much. The characters were real and the story development was real. The writing was outstanding and if Anne Pfeffer's other books are even half as great as this one then she will have me as a fan for a very long time to come!!

Girls Love Travis Walker.... I know this one sure does!!!

5/5 Heart wrenching Stars!! 

COVER REVEAL & EXCERPT: Glass Hearts (Hearts #2) by Lisa De Jong


Title: Glass Hearts
Author: Lisa De Jong
Expected Release Date:  June 28, 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary

Can a relationship survive on love alone? Is love truly enough?

Dane and Alex’s relationship has never been easy, but now they have a fresh start without the pressures of Alex’s family. Together they try to move forward while continuing to struggle with a past that they can’t seem to escape.

Sometimes no matter how hard we try to make things work, love isn’t enough.

Sometimes even after a broken heart is mended, cracks remain, and the same doubts and insecurities that once yanked us apart seep in.

Can true love hold Dane and Alex together or will their hearts completely shatter like glass?

Add to Goodreads

Book one, Plastic Hearts is on sale today at Amazon for .99c


Excerpt
I head toward the bedroom and find Alex sprawled out on the center of the bed. I’m still pissed at her for dancing with him.  I don’t know what she was thinking. I hate that fucker and seeing him with his hands on my girl was enough to send me over the edge. I immediately wanted to walk over to them but I stopped, telling myself over and over that there would be no way I could control my temper if I went anywhere near him.
I kept my eyes on them, ready to pounce if he took it any further. I started to cool down a little but deep shades of red clouded by vision when I saw him press his body closer to her.  My mind was made up; I was heading over to punch that idiot in the face if I got through the packed crowd.   I was still about ten feet away when I saw him press his lips to her cheek and it halted me in place; she let him do it.  Didn’t push him away or tell him to stop.  It took everything I had to not break his neck.  I was even more pissed at Alex for letting him do it.
I hate feeling this way.
“Dane,” she whispers, lifting her head from the pillow.  She glances at the clock.  “You’re late getting home.”
Yeah, I had a couple drinks after work.  I needed them.  “It was busy,” I say, sitting on the edge of the bed to remove my shoes. 


About the Author
Lisa De Jong is a wife, mother and full-time number cruncher who lives in the Midwest. Her writing journey involved insane amounts of coffee and many nights of very little sleep but she wouldn't change a thing. She also enjoys reading, football and music.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Twitter


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